Lock hinge



Feb. 2l. 19.56 x B. K. GREEN ETAL LOCK HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l1.

Filed June 18, 1953 X. B. K. GREEN ET AL Feb. 2l, 1956 A LOCK HINGE Filed June 18, 1953 United States Patent LOCK HINGE Xan B. K. Green, New Paltz, and Harry Preble, Jr., Cross River, N. Y., assignors to General Slicing Machine Co., Inc., Walden, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,566

4 Claims. (Cl. 16-144) The present invention relates to hinges and more particularly to the type wherein its knuckles are locked against relative movement about their axis pin at predetermined positions of one knuckle in relation to the other.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved lock hinge of the character mentioned.

Another object hereof is to provide a lock hinge of novel and improved construction which is sturdy and nonwobbly at all of its possible set positions.

A further object hereof is to provide a novel and improved lock hinge which is push-button operated, easy to use, reasonable in cost and efficient in carrying out the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specication, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a lock hinge structure embodying the teachings of this invention. Such hinge is here shown used in conjunction with the pusher or prong plate of a food slicing machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the push button member included in said hinge structure. By manipulating this push button, the hinge knuckles are either free to turn relative to one another on the hinge axis pin, or to be locked in one of a plurality of positions relative each other.

Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central sectional view of one of the hinge knuckles.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other hinge knuckle.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal view of the axis pin for said knuckles.

Fig. 8 is a pictorial view of a food slicing machine utilizing the lock hinge of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the food-carrying platform and the pusher plate of said slicing machine. ln both this view and in Fig. 8, said pusher plate is shown in use position.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the pusher plate moved a quarter turn by the use of the lock hinge taught herein.

Fig. 11 is a view of which Fig. 10 is the top plan view.

Fig. 12 is similar to Fig. 11, but shows the pusher plate swung away to an unobstructive position to clear the platform for loading or to permit easy cleaning of said platform and the prong or pusher plate aforesaid.

In the drawings, the numeral 15 designates generally the preferred embodiment of the lock hinge structure having the axis pin 16 for the hinge knuckles 17 and 18; the latter of which may be an integral part of the slide 19 which carries the pusher plate 20 of the food slicing machine 21. The said axis pin 16 is iixedly secured at one end to the knuckle 18 from which it extends into the knuckle 17. This secured end of said axis pin may be threaded as at 19 to tit into the threaded hole 20 and is maintained against axial rotation by the set screw 21' which engages the reduced shank portion 22 of such axis pin. In the end of the knuckle 17 next to knuckle 18, there is a comparatively shallow counterbore 23 to house a thrust bearing unit 24 carried on the axis pin 16, while at the other end of said knuckle 17 there is provided a relatively deep counterbore 25 which has therein the longitudinally slidably fitted tine-carrying tubular member denoted generally by the numeral 26, which latter is a push buttonv having the nger piece or head element 27 secured thereon by means of a pin 28 held in a pair of opposite tines 29, 30.

That intermediate part of the axis pin 16 which ts into the bore 31 so that the knuckle 17 may revolve thereon, is denoted by the numeral 32, while the end portion 33 of said hinge pin which is within the push button 26, is of non-circular or of square cross-section. Intermediate and in contact with the loose washers 34, 35 there is a bowed spring retainer ring 36 mounted as a ange on the reduced portion 37 of the pin 16. The washer 34 rests on the bottom of the counterbore 25, while a stressed compression spring 38 of coil form about the axis pin, rests on the washer 35 and urges the push button 26 in a direction outwardly of said counterbore 25; the pin 39 across and within said counterbore 25, acting as a stop therefor. The tubular part 40 of the pu'sh button member 26, in the embodiment illustrated, has four tines 29, 30, 41, 42 extending longitudinally therefrom towards the entrance of the counterbore 25. The tines 41, 42 which are diametrically opposite each other, are shorter than and between the other pair of diametrically opposite tines 29, 30. Such construction alfords the notches 43, 44, 45, 46 between the tines respectively. These notches are equi-spaced. The notches 43, 44 are opposite each other and pin 39 can lie through both of them simultaneously without play. The same applies to the notches 45, 46. The push button member 26 slides along the squaresection part 33 of the hinge axis pin and fits thereon through the square hole 47. It is evident that when the push button member 26 is pushed into the counterbore 25 until pin 39 is clear of the ends of the low tines 41, 42, the hinge knuckle 17 is free to move a quarter turn. When the pin 39 is in notches 43, 44 or in notches 45, 46 and the finger hold on the push button member 26 is let go, the hinge 15 is locked. In the assembly, the hinge yaxis pin 16 is so set and the push button member 26 is so mounted thereon, that at one locked position of the hinge 15 the pusher plate 20 shall be as in Fig. 9, while at the other locked position of said hinge structure, said pusher plate will be as in Fig. l0, if said hinge is to serve in the slicing machine as intended. It might here be mentioned that the pusher plate 20 is really carried on an arm 48 which extends as an integral part of the knuckle 17 in the illustrated embodiment. Also, as an expedient for the manufacture of the push button 26, the square hole 47 need only be part way therealong while the balance may be a round bore to clear the axis pin part 33.

It is important to note that the bowed spring retainer ring 36 is in tensed state in the assembly of the lock-hinge 15. It is evident that this spring acting to pull knuckle 18 against knuckle 17, and to push knuckle 17 downward against knuckle 18, keeps the said knuckles tightly one against the other with force, thereby obviating all possibility of any wobble and maintains the arm 48 in rigid position at the locked positions of the hinge structure 15. The stress in spring 36 can be adjusted by shifting the position of the pin 16 in the threaded hole 20.

The adaptation of such lock-hinge in the use illustrated on the slicing machine 21, permits positioning the pusher plate 20 as shown in the Figs. 9 and 10 respectively. Then said pusher plate may be swung out of the way as in Fig. 12, because the slide 19 is both slidable and rotatable on its track rod 49 which is mounted on the carriage 50, as

particularly shown on the food carrying platform S1, of such carriage.

This invention is capable ofnumerous forms and'various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is thereforeintended and desired that the embodiment shown h'erein `be deemed illustrative and not Vrestrictive Vand that vthe patent 'shall co'v'er all patentable'noveltyzherein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather `than to 'the specific description herein to indicate the scope of 'this invention.

'We claim:

1. 'In a lock hinge structure, a tirst member having a bore therethrough, -a second member positioned in contact with the first member and across lone end `of said bore; the other end of said bore being counterbored, a tubular member 'longitudinally positioned within the counterbore and slidable therealong; the end .of Ysaid tubular member furtheres't from the plane of contact of said first and second members, having aplurality of pairs of spaced diametrically opposite longitudinal extensions determining pairs of diametrically opposite Alongitudinal notches in said tubular member; one pair of Said diametrically opposite extensions being longer than the others, a finger piece carried by at least one ofsaid longer extensions, accessible `at the mouth of said counterbore 4and adapted to be manually pushed 'to move the tubular member inwardly inthe counterbore, arst pin secured to the first member and extending diametrically across and within said counterbore and positioned in normal rest lposition through a diametrically opposite pair of said notches; said notchengagement pin when in any of said pairsof diametrically opposite notches, holding the tubular member against rotation within the counterbore, spring means within the said counterbore urging said tubular member in a direction outwardly of said counterbore and against said -notchengaging pin, a second pin secured tothe second member and extending into the bore and into said tubular member; the first member being rotatably mounted on said second `p`in;:s`aidtubular member -being slidable along .said second pin, means on said second pin engaging said tubular mem- 'ber against rotation Aabout such second ypin `and 'stressed suring means within said counterbore, mounted and held against movement on said second pin; such stressed spring means pressing the first member against the second member; said tubular member when slid a suticient distance into the said counterbore that -the rst pin is out of said notches, freeing said first member for rotation about said second pin within the spaces between said longer extensions whereby said virst pin can be ,positioned to be set in any pair of opposite notches Aupon relative .rotation of the first and second members and the subsequent release -of vthe tubular member.

2. Thelock-hinge structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of klongitudinal extensions on the tubular member is four thereby presenting four notches; the diameters determined by such two pairs of notches, being in perpendicular relation.

3. VThe'lock-hinge structure as dened in claim 1, whereinthe stressed spring means on the second pin urging the first member against the second member, is a bowed spring washer.

4. .T he lock-hinge structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the second pin is-straight and includes a screw portion threadedly engaged in the second member and is thus adapted for movement to adjustthe stress in said stressed spring means urging'the lirs't member against the second member and a means on the said lsecond member 'to 'fix the second p'in against rotation.

References Cited in the Ytile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l631,501 Glover Aug. 22, `1899 V1,186,607 Powell lune 13, '1916 1,429,416 Fade Sept. 19, 1922 2,561,952 Rosby Jul-y 24, 1951 

